Senators weigh in

Underwood, D-Tamuning, stressed the need for the investigation to continue with a third-party special counsel, who could decide to prosecute the Calvo administration.

“Yes, everybody must be held accountable for misuse of public funds,” Underwood wrote.

“We no longer need a war (of) words. We need an independent investigation.”

Cruz had stated earlier this week that he recently met with Barrett-Anderson, who, he said, was doing her due diligence in the matter prior to making her next move.

“I am also confident that the attorney general is also moving forward,” he said. “She is doing her due diligence to determine how this is supposed to be done.”

Speaker Judith Won Pat, D-Inarajan, and Sen. Dennis Rodriguez Jr., D-Dededo, both acknowledged the necessity in continuing the investigation, while also noting their trust in the attorney general to move the issue forward.

“Anyone who willfully intends to commit any illegal act should be held accountable,” Rodriguez said.

“I trust our legal and judicial systems. I am certain due process and due diligence will be followed as it relates to this matter.”

Recollecting $700,000

Since Adelup’s controversial pay raises have been made public, the governor’s office has sent the Legislature a series of Freedom of Information Act requests, in which the Calvo administration raised several allegations of financial mismanagement at the legislative branch.

The administration also announced last month that for the next 11 months it would reduce its monthly budget allotment to the Legislature by roughly $64,000.

Calvo said it was an effort to recollect a supplemental appropriation of $700,000 the administration gave the branch last February.

The administration said it was complying with Barrett-Anderson’s prior advice to not transfer the money because it’s unlawful to appropriate and expend over the appropriation level in a fiscal budget.

“If an illegal act has been committed, regardless of who the perpetrator is, prosecution should be pursued. To do otherwise would be inviting further transgressions.”

Senator Thomas Ada

Legislative Executive Director Vince Arriola requested the additional funds so they could cover the senators’ retroactive pay raises pursuant to Public Law 32-208.

The law was enacted in November, giving retroactive pay raises to elected and appointed officials.

The Legislature, which has a fiscal 2016 budget of $8.4 million, meaning it is to receive $700,000 a month, already has begun to feel the pinch in funds as they’re forced to cut costs across the board by 8 percent, Arriola said.

“As they say in accounting terms, ‘we’ve sharpened our pencils.’ We’re being more diligent, even though we’ve always been diligent in looking at our expenses,” Arriola said. “Because there is in fact an 8-percent reduction, we’ve got to act accordingly.”

Arriola said he doesn’t foresee any layoffs occurring as a result of the budget reduction, but said things could change.

“I don’t see any layoffs at this point. Every senator is going to have to review their budgets to take it all the way to the end of the fiscal year and see where we end,” Arriola said. “It’s about tightening our belts to make it through the rest of the fiscal year.”

Sen. Respicio said the Legislature is exploring its options to address the budget reduction, but at this point, it’s not clear if the lawmaking branch will challenge Calvo and the administration.